RUDEN 18 years later, Simoneau again pursuing an FCIAC softball title

NEW CANAAN -- The windup was a combination of grace and pure power, fluid in motion yet explosive at its climax, resulting in a ball being released as if shot from a cannon.

The emphatic result, more often than not, was the deafening pop of leather on leather, and a batter left looking helpless and disjointed.

It has been a long time since the FCIAC has seen a pitcher as dominant as Danielle Simoneau, who appear with comet-like frequency. She was the headliner of a golden era for Westhill High School's softball program.

During the four years Simoneau commanded the spotlight, ending in 1993, the Vikings made three appearances in the conference title game, winning twice, and three straight trips to the CIAC Class final; their 1992 championship was the school's only one in the sport until last spring.

Simoneau's bat was as lethal as her arm, as she sent opposing outfielders on what is now Allyson Rioux Field into full sprints, though they were often stationed not far from the adjoining outfield fence on the baseball field.

Simoneau went on the play for the University of Hartford. She still tops the record book for career earned run average (1.26) and shutouts (17), and is second in wins (43) and strikeouts (497 in 482 innings).

Offensively, Simoneau is No. 1 all-time in RBIs (97), batting average (.364) and total bases (250), second in hits and third in home runs (16).

I remember fondly covering Simoneau during my first year at the Advocate.

Eighteen years later, I am writing about her again, and her name and the words "FCIAC championship" are back in the same sentence.

Simoneau has never left the local softball scene, staying actively involved as a parent, summer coach and private teacher.

Now she has come back full circle, this time as the new coach at New Canaan High School. When the best group of young talent the Rams have possibly ever had learned the news at the end of last spring, they didn't throw a parade.

But they wanted to.

"I knew her very well because I have been working with her for a year and a half at Bobby Valentine's," said Cydney Ventura, the Rams' sophomore pitcher, referring to the former Mets manager and Stamford native's baseball academy, where Simoneau gives lessons. "I was very excited. "She knows a lot of us well. We knew she knew what she was talking about and would help us win."

Simoneau had worked with the underclassmen who were a part of the Storm travel team. Then there are players like Tory Rusch, the Rams' senior first baseman and co-captain, who knew of her only by reputation, and was thirsting to be part of something special for her final season before heading off to play at Bowdoin.

"I knew that she was one of the best players in FCIAC history," Rusch said. "She accomplished so much, and it was a good change of pace for us. She's been there."

The hope is that the Rams will also eventually be there, perhaps as early as next month. It would be unfair to put undue pressure on a team comprised of so many underclassmen. But the fact remains New Canaan is 6-0, has a big win over Darien under its belt, and in a league that appears to be wide open, would appear to have a legitimate shot at becoming the first school located outside of Stamford, Norwalk or Trumbull to win a conference title in the sport.

"Yeah, but it's only a start," Simoneau cautioned. "They have to stay level-headed and keep improving. They get that we are not at the end of the road yet. You can't get excited until we near the end."

Simoneau brought instant credibility for players still in need of a compass to steer them in the right direction.

"They seem to respect the fact that they know I know what I am talking about, and I respect the talent they have," she said. "There are certain things I expect."

Simoneau has worked closely with Ventura, whose catcher is her twin sister, Jordan.

"She knows the game very well," Ventura said "It's so helpful to have her there in the dugout when you are pitching in a game. If you do something wrong, she will tell you. Last year if I did something wrong I didn't know what to do to correct it."

Simoneau teaches special education at Stark Elementary School in Stamford. She can relate well to the players -- her daughter Ashley graduated last year after four seasons on the Trumbull High School team, which freed her schedule to allow her to coach full time this spring.

She also knows just being the players' friend is not going to help them reach their goals. Besides, it is in Simoneau's nature to tell it like it is, bluntly if necessary.

"It's been great," Rusch said. "She's the type of coach, I don't want to say she's strict, but she's not going to take garbage from anyone. She will talk to you if you get down or are frustrated. In practice, if you have an attitude you are going to make a change, or else you are going to see the bench or run laps. She knows how to have fun but has a serious side."

Simoneau has preached keeping last week's Darien game in perspective. Her players can think back to a year ago, when they upset St. Joseph, 3-2. Two games later they lost to Fairfield Warde, 8-4, were shutout by Westhill and Trumbull, and needed a win over Bassick on the final day of the regular season to finish 8-12 and qualify for the state tournament.

Perhaps the Rams needed that experience to deal with their current status and the opportunities apparently now within reach.

"I discussed Darien with the girls in practice," Simoneau said. "Yeah, it was a great win, but there's a lot of things still to work on. There's a tremendous amount of talent. I'll put this team up against anybody. They are good and they are modest about how good they are."

Now the pitcher who once threw bullets has the chance to land another one: becoming the first person to win an FCIAC title as a player and coach in the sport.

"That would be an unbelievable feeling," Simoneau said. "If it doesn't happen this year, hopefully it happens next year. You can't think too far ahead. My job is to help them get there. I don't have a personal goal. But down the road, it's in the back of my mind. To be an FCIAC or state champion again, that would be great."